Time for Myself

On Thursday I ventured out with 2 of my close friends to Truro for time on my own, well time on my own with good company!

I'm not hugely fond of places with lots of people but equally I can cope and I always love coming to see the Cathedral. I usually go in whenever I'm visiting but I didn't on this occasion. I still made my friends wait while I took photos of bunting and the beautiful building.

We visited Pennyworths Sweet Shop which is next to the Cathedral and full of goodies. I didn't purchase anything because I only had my card on me but next time I know I can take the little ones there and bring some pennies with me! We went to collect a parcel and I picked up some awesome pink headphones.

We stopped at a place called Vanilla where we had a bite to eat. I enjoyed a strawberry and raspberry with cracked black pepper drink which was nice but not really my thing so next time I'll try something else. I had a huge Cornish smoked mackerel salad which was really, really delicious and very good. There isn't much option for free from eaters but I was happy with this. After paying the bill we headed home.

I ended up picking Little A up from the train station and we headed home to chill out together. He's really come a long way with his reading and I really love it when he gets excited about stories at bedtime.

So I've taken some time out, just a short space of time which was nice. This weekend I'm off to see family and my boyfriend which is really exciting and has been something to look forward to for ages. I'm hoping I come back with a clearer mind, a lighter soul, some positivity and a bit of healing.

Cupcake Mumma

Race for Life 2016 ~ In Loving Memory of Anne

I was going to write this post soon after I finished the race on Sunday, 10th July but I never got around to it. I wanted to do the Race for Life this year as I didn't participate the year before. What spurred me on was learning a friends mum, an extremely close friend's mum, was undergoing treatment for the third time for cancer. As the time drew nearer it wasn't long before we all knew that she just wasn't going to win this round. I wanted her to know that I cared, that I loved her family like it was my own, so together myself and my own Mum made sure we raised funds and completed our race for life. Anne was on my mind the days leading up to the event and whilst tied to one of my mum's legs, hobbling around with an aching muscle and bruised ankle, it was Anne and my friend that kept me going. 

Below are some photos I took of this race event which was in Truro like it is every year. There were nearly 900 people taking part and many, many supporters cheering us all on. This post, much like my race, is dedicated to Anne, Mother of an extremely close and wonderful friend not just to me but to many. A lady who I know did a lot of good and leaves behind a wonderful man and many grandchildren but who led a full life and fought to the end. May you rest peacefully Anne and enjoy the view from upstairs 

xxxx

 My back sign

 Everybody getting ready for the warm up. So many people there again this year.

 Dad presenting mum with her medal after the race.

 Mum and I before the start of the race

 If you'd like to sponsor us for taking part this year and help us reach the £200 we're so very close to, you can do so below, A huge thank you to all those who have sponsored us both before and after the event. Also a huge thank you to the lovely ladies who sent happy mail to Anne. I know it meant a lot to her and it also meant a lot to her family too. Thank you x

Our Just Giving Page

Truro Museum with Midge

I have not been to the museum for well over a year and the last time we went it was such a rush around job with the little ones not interested in the actual museum but the activity centers. Last week, Midge and I grabbed a train and headed to Truro for a mum and daughter day out.

I love history, adore it in fact. I'm useless with names and even worse with dates but I love seeing these objects from hundreds of years ago, I love learning facts and hearing stories. I love touching these statues and stones that are so, so old and we have no idea how many people now so long ago have laid their hands on the exact same objects. Amazing. Now I'm done getting my geek on, let me share with you our wonderful trip!

We started with a little shopping in the town center. I bought myself a new cook book and some earrings and Midge bought herself a new purse and some clip on earrings. I made her try on this hair band because I knew how sweet she'd look!

We then went to Truro Cathedral which takes my breath away no matter how many times I go in there. We walked around and saw a small art exhibition inside too. After our little tour we went to the shop where we bought some gorgeous non edible Easter eggs and some postcards for our collection.

Then the museum! I paid £5 to enter the Royal Cornwall Museum and now I have a whole year free entry! Children are free already so it's a really cheap day out. We checked out the feet of Cornwall's tallest man (The Cornish Giant) and a beautiful coach from the 1700's. Midge was keen to go upstairs because we were told there was a mummy up there.

I got half way around the 2nd floor before Midge got bored with my fact reading which was a shame but for a six year old she did well. There's only so many statues, cutlery and trinket boxes you can look at before you get the itch to move on, so I can't blame her! We found the next exhibition to be great for Midge though. Romans, Greeks and Egyptians.

Midge dressed up as a Greek girl and pretended she was a queen (very funny) and I showed her the Egyptian section with a lot of excitement! I showed her the sarcophagus and the jars which were used to store the organs of the dead (unused) Afterwards, I turned around to see the coffin and the real mummified body of an ancient Egyptian behind glass and nearly wet myself with excitement (I told you, history geek! You'll have to go the museum to see for yourself though!)

We then did some activities like having a go at mummification before moving downstairs where we looked at the animals of the ocean and nature on land. We looked at dead insects through microscopes and traced animal paw prints. We even saw a stuffed fox and hedgehog.

We had an ace time at the museum and we had so much fun together. Before heading back on the train we shared a large tray of chips and went for a stroll. It sort of felt like an early Mother's Day for me I suppose, which was lovely.

Some favourites: A more modern Virgin Mary/A beautiful carved box/A tea urn

Have you been on any days out recently or had any adventures of your own? Do let me know!

Cupcake Mumma

My Saturday: Family time and Museum fun

We all decided to have a family day out today. Both Other Half and myself don't feel that we spend enough quality time together as a family these days so what better way to rectify that than head out bright and early on a Saturday morning.

I wrote yesterday about living thrifty and being as cheap or budget conscious as possible these days and how sometimes, for me at least, it doesn't always feel good. At the end of this post I featured some photos of my most thrifty finds. I found that today, with my £30 pound budget in my purse for any shop finds, something to eat and bus fare, I kept this post in my head particularly my past finds and I started to feel good again. I remembered how I felt to come across a really good 'find'.

Anyway as usual I digress...We hopped on the bus (for once was cheaper than the train although hideously boring so I did wish now and then that I spent double amount on the train fare! Glad I did not though!) We eventually arrived and first set about something to eat. I used some spare change in my purse to pay for lunch. It was in a superstore and it was absolute pants. I'm sure all you pay for is the packaging these days huh?

Other Half wasn't happy- here he is in one of his rare immature moods scribbling 'rip off' all over the receipt. Oh dear.

After lunch we pushed on and got down to going in and out of a few shops. We went around the indoor market which is full of all sorts of stores. Other Half bored us rigged with his exchange stores after that we we visited a couple of charity shops before setting our sites on the local Museum. I had this on my Project Zero list and completed it a little while ago (here) but never got round to viewing upstairs. I loved it. Little Miss was a bit too hyped up to enjoy it, but she liked the art gallery and the children's section. Being 4 I can't expect her to fully appreciate the Ancient Egyptians or Cornish Heritage just yet can I?

We got home at half past six both children still wide awake, both parents slightly worse for wear! Other Half crashed out in bed same time as i settled Little Miss and has only just resurfaced (as I go to the pit.) I'll leave you with the photos of our day. Have a good Sunday,

Cupcake Mumma

All Aboard!

Other Half's foot isn't far off the Cornish Giants!

A bank note for 5 Guineas from the Cornish bank. 

Funnily enough these are toilet accessories and furniture from the Roman times.

Isn't this Snuff Box beautiful? It's dated C.1750-56

Japanese Samurai swords. Wow.

Little Miss having a go at a puzzle in the art gallery

The finished piece!

If you're ever down this way, please think of heading to Truro and visiting the Royal Cornwall Museum. It really is great! 

http://www.royalcornwallmuseum.org.uk/

Project zero- Go To A Museum

Obviously I have been to a museum before but not in a jolly long time! So I'm just going to share some photos from the 7th January (yep bit slow I know) and hope you enjoy the peek at another successful challenge crossed off for this year!

Little Miss having a go on the rides. 

I missed a bit of this because I was reading my Big Issue!

This piece is called 'Invisable Sleeper' by Richard Austin and was in the Cathedral at Truro. It caused a bit of controversial talk when it was created and placed as people generally thought this was a real person sleeping rough and it shocked them. I think it is a very poignant sculpture and the man is incredibly life like. The Invisible Sleeper is all about how some of our homeless are hard to see. There are many homeless and a fair few are in rural locations where we have no idea who they are.

The Rialton Stone is a memorial stone of a 6th Century Christian in Truro's Museum. Here's Little Man with his Grandma and Pops. 

Precious little hands touching history.

Little Miss in front of a carriage which I believe was once ridden in by the Spanish Ambassador. 

Little Miss was quite taken aback by the size of the carriage considering the wheels are bigger than her!

Exploring the nature zone. 

Little Miss learnt about types of mushrooms and the footprints of animals in the wild. There were also a few sound effects of various birds one of them being the Cornish Chough which I'm ashamed to say I didn't even know existed! (Whoops!)

Oh her Aunt will be pleased she's behind a microscope! Little Miss really enjoyed looking so closely at the wings and bodies of various insects including a bee, a wasp, a beetle and a rather large moth.

To round off the day my Dad took this photo of me and my Little Miss outside the Royal Cornwall Museum, Truro.

Hannah

X

My Lovely November Weekend

I think I may have been a bit too involved in my memes of late and i've also had a few moments of 'well, what the hell do I write today?' They really suck, trapped brain waves pushing against that spongy wall to no avail...but they made it out, probably found a random gap where something of remote intelligence once lived!
On Saturday (after my lay in you understand) I decided me and Little Miss should just jump on a train and go to Truro. I took a little money, Little Miss grabbed her purse with £7.50 saved up (plus £2 generously donated by Nanny) and we were off. I got some lovely photos at the train station:

View of the tracks at Camborne Station

Couldn't resist a snap of the tracks not sure why!

Lovely Little Miss

Yes, Ted had to come to!

We arrived after a rather cramped journey on a small train and honestly could not believe the looks I received from one particuar student who decided all her stuff should take up 4 seats..When asked to move her portfolio so my 3 year could sit down you would have thought i'd asked her to get out and push the sodding train! 

Once we did arrive though Little Miss got very excited. We decided to hunt for some lunch first and sat down outside the Cathedral. It was cold but we ate fast so we could go inside to light some candles and have a look around. Little Miss loves these buildings and I'm so pleased because they are wonderful. She was full of questions and afterwards we popped into the shop to buy a postcard for me (as I collect them) and Little Miss found a feather pen, paid for it all by herself and has now decided she is exactly like Harry Potter, wand and all! 

Truro Cathedral

Small memorial

The Madonna with child

For Uncle Moo, Super Nanny and the Fallen we remember x

Everytime we go to Truro we light a candle for someone, it's coming up to a year already since my partner lost his Nan, my children's 'Super Nanny' so we lit 3 and donated some money into the boxes.

After this, we looked around some shops, mainly buying some Christmas bits from the good old £ Store, played in the Early Learning Center where we bought Little Man a Christmas gift which i'm sure will keep him amused for hours. It took a while to get Miss out of this store as you can imagine but the temptation of posting some letters for Mummy was too much so off we went!

Add caption

Ahh I forgot to mention the little 'fair' we ran in to! We lost at 'find the giant ball hidden under the snowmen' but Miss got 2 Lollies for having a go, she was given a balloon by a rather nice lady who then proceeded to wrap this rather well made and perfectly fitting Princess crown around her head..Now, where she got the candy cane from i'm not so sure! Must have been given it when I wasn't looking!

Sunday

The day started off nice and peaceful until we heard the band marching down the road 'Of course!' I cried. I slipped on some trainers, Little Miss wanted to tag along too so I needed to shove a pair of jeans and a t-shirt on her (not realising just how bleeding cold it was going to be out there!)
We ran like mad to get to the end of town where I could get a picture of the band,army,navy you name it they were there and I wanted to capture them paying their respects.
We gathered at the local Church for our 2 minutes silence, speeches,laying of the wreaths. I didn't attend the ceremony simply because both Little Miss and I were thoroughly frozen by the time we had paid our respects. I got some lovely shots, loved seeing the gathered crowd come together, shed a few tears and had a brief conversation about why we were there with Little Miss who proceeded to say 'They are all angels in the sky now Mummy'. Bless and how right she is. I said it before and i'd say it again; I would freeze again and for longer to pay my respects to all those lost then and now (although I will put a coat on my daughter.) *Bad Cupcake Mum* 


Anyway i'm now looking forward to a rather nice (and long over due) catch up with a school friend I have not seen in over a year! Awful!